For years, Emperor Bilikiki has temporarily swapped scuba divers for doctors, nurses and healthcare volunteers as it supports the Loloma Foundation’s annual medical outreach across the Solomon Islands.
The 2026 mission has now concluded, and the results once again demonstrate the remarkable impact the partnership has on some of the country’s most remote island communities.
During the ten-day expedition, volunteer teams delivered more than 2,265 healthcare services across eight locations, providing medical consultations, eye care, women’s health services and health education to hundreds of islanders.
For most of the year, Emperor Bilikiki explores the spectacular reefs, islands and WWII wrecks of the Solomon Islands, introducing divers to one of the world’s most rewarding underwater destinations. But for a few weeks each year, the liveaboard takes on a very different role, becoming a floating base that helps bring essential healthcare to communities where access can be limited by geography.
Supporting the Loloma Foundation
Founded almost 25 years ago, the California-based Loloma Foundation works alongside local healthcare professionals to provide free medical, dental and eye care services, as well as health education, to underserved communities throughout the South Pacific.
The charity’s work is about far more than treating illness. By combining healthcare with education, prevention and collaboration with local organisations, the foundation aims to improve long-term health and wellbeing across the communities it visits.
Many of these villages are located on remote islands where access to healthcare can be challenging. That’s where Emperor Bilikiki plays a vital role.
A Floating Base for Healthcare
Rather than operating a diving itinerary, Emperor Bilikiki becomes a floating logistics base for the volunteer teams.
The liveaboard provides accommodation, transport and logistical support, enabling doctors, nurses, dentists and optometrists to travel between remote islands while carrying everything needed to establish temporary clinics ashore.
Without a vessel capable of safely transporting people, supplies and equipment between islands, reaching so many communities during a single outreach would be extremely difficult.
The 2026 Outreach by the Numbers
The impact of this year’s outreach demonstrates just how valuable that support can be.
Working across eight locations, the volunteer teams delivered more than 2,265 healthcare services, including:
* 1,182 medical consultations
* 481 pairs of reading glasses provided
* 167 women’s health examinations and treatments
* Seven surgical referrals
The outreach also included women’s health education sessions, the distribution of reusable sanitary products and specially designed bracelets that help explain the menstrual cycle. More than 300 education kits were distributed during the expedition.
A Partnership Built on Community
Following the 2026 outreach, Loloma Foundation founder Bob Sykes praised both the partnership and the Emperor Bilikiki crew.
“The Loloma Foundation’s June trip aboard the Bilikiki was truly glorious. During the ten days we were on board, we treated more than 2,300 patients. What an extraordinary gift Emperor Divers gave – not only to Loloma, but most importantly, to the people of the Solomon Islands.”
He also thanked the crew for meeting every challenge “with professionalism, ingenuity and a willingness to help”, helping make the outreach possible.
For Emperor Divers, supporting the project is another way of giving something back to the communities that have welcomed guests to the Solomon Islands for many years.
Visitors often come for the spectacular coral reefs, historic WWII wrecks and exceptional marine life, but they leave remembering something else just as vividly: the warmth, generosity and resilience of the Solomon Islands people.
For most of the year, Emperor Bilikiki creates unforgettable diving adventures. For a short time each year, it becomes something even more special—a vessel helping deliver healthcare to people who need it most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Loloma Foundation?
The Loloma Foundation is a non-profit organisation that provides free medical, dental and eye care services, along with health education, to underserved communities across the South Pacific. It works closely with local healthcare professionals to improve access to essential healthcare.
Why does Emperor Bilikiki support the Loloma Foundation?
The Solomon Islands is made up of hundreds of islands spread across a vast area of ocean. Many communities can only be reached by boat, making Emperor Bilikiki an ideal platform to transport volunteer healthcare teams, equipment and supplies between remote locations.
Does the medical outreach affect Emperor Bilikiki dive trips?
No. The outreach takes place during a dedicated period in the vessel’s annual schedule and is planned separately from Emperor Bilikiki’s normal liveaboard diving operations.
Can guests volunteer on the Loloma Foundation outreach?
The medical outreach is organised specifically for qualified volunteer healthcare professionals and support teams. Guests join Emperor Bilikiki during its scheduled Solomon Islands liveaboard itineraries.
Why is the Solomon Islands one of the world’s best liveaboard diving destinations?
The Solomon Islands offers colourful coral reefs, abundant marine life and some of the world’s best-preserved WWII wrecks in Iron Bottom Sound. Many of the country’s finest dive sites are only accessible by liveaboard, making Emperor Bilikiki the ideal way to explore this remarkable destination.
When does the Loloma Foundation outreach take place?
The outreach is held annually, with Emperor Bilikiki supporting the programme during a dedicated period each year before returning to its scheduled liveaboard diving itineraries.
